- A
Serverless
Why wrong: Serverless is designed for databases with intermittent, unpredictable usage and auto-scaling compute, but it does not support databases as large as 6 TB or provide read scale-out for analytics.
- B
Hyperscale
Hyperscale supports databases up to 100 TB, allows independent scaling of compute and storage, and provides up to four readable replicas to offload reporting and analytics workloads.
- C
Business Critical
Why wrong: Business Critical provides high availability and low latency, but it does not offer the same scale-out read capabilities for large databases and has a maximum database size of 4 TB.
- D
General Purpose
Why wrong: General Purpose is cost-effective but limited to 4 TB and does not support readable replicas or independent scaling for analytics workloads.
Quick Answer
The answer is the Hyperscale service tier. This is correct because Hyperscale is specifically architected for databases up to 100 TB, like the 6 TB workload described, and it supports high-volume concurrent transactions while enabling near real-time analytics through named replicas that offload read queries without impacting OLTP performance. It also allows independent scaling of compute and storage, meeting the requirement for fast read scale-out and decoupled resources. On the Microsoft Azure Data Fundamentals DP-900 exam, this question tests your understanding of when to use Azure SQL Database Hyperscale tier versus General Purpose or Business Critical, often appearing as a scenario-based question where a trap is to choose Business Critical for high performance, but the key differentiator is the need for read scale-out and independent compute/storage scaling. Remember the mnemonic "Huge, Hyperscale, Hand-off Reads": Huge databases (up to 100 TB) with a need to hand off read workloads to separate replicas point directly to Hyperscale.
DP-900 Practice Question: Identify considerations for relational data on Azure
This DP-900 practice question tests your understanding of identify considerations for relational data on azure. Match the stated requirement to the specific cloud service, access model, or configuration option — many options are valid in isolation but not for this scenario. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
A financial services company runs a single SQL Server database that is 6 TB in size and handles a high volume of concurrent transactions. The database needs to support near real-time analytics without impacting OLTP performance. The company wants to migrate to Azure SQL Database and requires fast scale-out for read workloads, as well as the ability to independently scale compute and storage. Which Azure SQL Database service tier should they choose?
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Hyperscale
Hyperscale is the correct choice because it is designed for databases up to 100 TB, supports high-volume concurrent transactions, and provides near real-time read scale-out via named replicas that offload read workloads without affecting OLTP performance. It also allows independent scaling of compute (vCores) and storage (auto-scaled), meeting the company's requirements for fast scale-out and decoupled resources.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Serverless
Why it's wrong here
Serverless is designed for databases with intermittent, unpredictable usage and auto-scaling compute, but it does not support databases as large as 6 TB or provide read scale-out for analytics.
- ✓
Hyperscale
Why this is correct
Hyperscale supports databases up to 100 TB, allows independent scaling of compute and storage, and provides up to four readable replicas to offload reporting and analytics workloads.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Business Critical
Why it's wrong here
Business Critical provides high availability and low latency, but it does not offer the same scale-out read capabilities for large databases and has a maximum database size of 4 TB.
- ✗
General Purpose
Why it's wrong here
General Purpose is cost-effective but limited to 4 TB and does not support readable replicas or independent scaling for analytics workloads.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may confuse Business Critical's high availability features with read scale-out, but Business Critical does not provide dedicated read replicas for analytics workloads, and its storage is not independently scalable from compute.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Hyperscale uses a distributed architecture with a separate compute layer (page servers) and a log-based storage layer, enabling near-instantaneous scaling of compute and storage independently. Named replicas are additional read-only compute nodes that synchronize via the log service, allowing analytics queries to run without blocking OLTP transactions. This architecture also supports rapid scaling of up to 100 TB of storage without data movement, unlike traditional tiers where scaling storage requires database copy operations.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
- Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
TExam Day Tips
- Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
- Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A media company stores terabytes of video archives that are accessed once a year for audit purposes. Moving these objects to a cold storage tier (Azure Archive, S3 Glacier, or Google Nearline) costs a fraction of hot storage. Questions like this test whether you understand storage tiers, access frequency tradeoffs, and retrieval latency requirements.
What to study next
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this DP-900 question test?
Identify considerations for relational data on Azure — This question tests Identify considerations for relational data on Azure — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Hyperscale — Hyperscale is the correct choice because it is designed for databases up to 100 TB, supports high-volume concurrent transactions, and provides near real-time read scale-out via named replicas that offload read workloads without affecting OLTP performance. It also allows independent scaling of compute (vCores) and storage (auto-scaled), meeting the company's requirements for fast scale-out and decoupled resources.
What should I do if I get this DP-900 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
This DP-900 practice question is part of Courseiva's free Microsoft certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the DP-900 exam.
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